We've talked a lot about the medications and the lifestyle changes that you need to make in order to manage irritable bowel syndrome. It goes without saying that it can be one of the most challenging conditions to deal with because there are so many concerns about there about the medications.
There are some excellent alternative treatments and herbal remedies that have shown some help with handling the symptoms of IBS.
As with all alternative treatments, there is no guarantee that these will work for you. Some treatments seem to help others more so than most. Yet, when it comes to finding relief from IBS, it goes without saying that any type of treatment that has the potential of helping should be fully explored.
In this chapter, we'll dive into some of those alternative treatment options. In many cases, you'll be able to pair them along side your other treatments for added benefit from IBS.
There are many different alternative treatments for all conditions out there. From the common cold to fighting cancer, and yes, IBS too, there is an alternative treatment that can be helpful to you. Why should you consider using alternative treatments, then?
There are many reasons and the largest reason that others find it important to use alternative treatments is simple. Most alternative treatments, especially herbal remedies and the like don't have the harsh side effects that chemical medications do.
In the wake of many of the different problems with IBS medications, more and more individuals are looking for alternative methods of managing their IBS other then through prescriptions.
You will want to consider complementary therapies when looking for alternatives to the medications for IBS. As the word implies, complementary treatments can safely be taken with other medications or other changes in your lifestyle.
In many cases, they are taken in addition to medications which make the end result just that much better for the IBS sufferer.
Some of the complimentary therapies that you should consider implementing into your daily lifestyle to fight IBS include:
When used in virtually any health consideration, there can be benefits from these therapies to the patient. In many cases, there are no adverse side effects or unbelievably difficult procedures to go through.
Complementary treatments allow you to be treated as a whole person rather than treating only the symptoms that you are experiencing. There are many people that do not agree with what their doctor's say or just don't like the approach that is being taken. In many ways, using complimentary treatments allows you to stay in control of your own treatment.
Now, let's break down the various types of complimentary therapies that you can consider for treatment of IBS. Remember, using any or all of these methods can improve your overall health and well being.
Herbal therapy is a therapy that uses naturally found plants and plant products to aid in making someone feel well. In many cases, the herbal remedies that you will find have been used for thousands of years by ancient Chinese civilizations. Some of them have worked, some of them have not.
In the herbal therapies that are designed for IBS, there are generally more than one set of ingredients or therapies given. This is because of just how the therapies are used. Instead of looking at the disease and its progress, ancient remedies instead look at the pattern of symptoms that you are facing and address this.
Of course, it is important to realize that most of the herbal treatments available today have been modified over time not only because of the ingredients available but also has the condition has changed over that period of time as well.
The most commonly used herbs for irritable bowel syndrome include:
When you purchase them, it is likely that they the herbal product will contain five or more herbs in one form. When purchasing these, it is of the utmost importance to pay attention to who you are purchasing them from and the quality of the product.
Without the highest quality, purest forms of these herbal treatments, it is unlikely that you will see the benefits that are available through the use of them otherwise.
If you don't believe that they work, then you have nothing to lose in trying. In fact, there have been some studies done that actually have shown improvement in IBS patients that received a dosage of herbal products daily over time. Most of them came back to be reassessed with improved symptoms.
Here are some additional herbal supplements that you can take that have shown to provide some improvement for IBS in the patient.
Ginger is a common food to be consumed with regard to relieving IBS problems. The use of ginger can be done in several ways. For those with IBS, a treatment can be to use ginger extract. A few drops of this consumed daily can help by providing anti inflammatory conditions as well as improving the quality of the lining of your gastric system and helping the intestines to do their job.
A common treatment for gastrointestinal conditions is that of peppermint oil. You should be careful when consuming large amounts of peppermint oil as it can cause some individuals to face heartburn. But, otherwise it has been beneficial to those suffering from IBS.
When used to treat IBS, peppermint oil is helpful in several ways. It can help to decrease the amount of muscle spasm that your GI tract undergoes. In addition, it can help with the other common symptoms of IBS such as relieving bloating and pain in the abdomen.
Add a few drops of peppermint oil to your drink and you'll have a nice tasting treatment for the IBS symptoms that you could face that day.
Throughout Europe, artichoke leaf extract has been useful in treating IBS. It has shown some improvements in the secretion of bile by the sufferer. There hasn't been a lot of study about this treatment as of yet, though.
There are other herbal products that you can take to help you with constipation. Most commonly is that of rhubarb root. But, others include senna, cascara as well as aloe. Consuming just a small amount of these elements through extras or supplemental pill form will aid in the relief of constipation.
Another helpful alternative therapy for IBS is that of movement therapy. In this type of therapy, individuals have the ability to use their body to gain relaxation and help in dealing with the symptoms of IBS. Some of the best to consider include yoga and tai chi. Most individuals can benefit from adding one or both of these to their daily or every other day routine.
Doing yoga or tai chi can be helpful in several ways. The movements of the body can help to relive conditions such as pain in the abdomen, bloating, gas and diarrhea. There have been a few studies done to show this, most with benefits on a small scale being seen.
But, doing movement therapy has its benefits in other regards as well. For example, yoga can be beneficial not only to IBS but to improving the body's overall health and helping with maintaining the right weight.
As we discussed in earlier chapters, stress reduction is one of the most important things for you to take into consideration. When it comes to using movement therapy to treat IBS, you will be tackling the stress end of it. With these types of improvements, you can see benefits across the board in your health.
To add yoga or tai chi to your lifestyle, visit a local recreational center or gym. Sign up for a beginner's course. Doing this allows you to learn the true forms of these therapies and will give you the best possible response. Daily yoga is recommended, but any amount of it per week will show some benefits to you.
As we discussed early in this e-book, there is a connection to your emotional state and the IBS symptoms that you are experiencing. With the help of mind body therapies, you can actually improve your overall well being and reduce the amount and severity of symptoms of IBS.
Meditation is one of those types of activities. Meditation allows your body to relax and allows your mind to be put at ease. These things are imperative when it comes to fighting IBS. In addition, daily meditation allows for stress relief which can aid in the reduction of IBS symptoms itself.
Another type of mind body therapy that has proven to be quite beneficial is that of hypnotherapy. Even in some clinical trials, hypnotherapy has shown to be a tool to aid in the reduction of IBS symptoms. For it to be beneficial, you'll need to visit and have a hypnosis session each week. You will want to do this over several months for the best results.
During the hypnosis, the individual will have progressive relaxation done. This uses soothing images as well as sensations to help the individual's symptoms.
With effective hypnosis, there are several benefits that can be seen including pain in the abdomen being relieved, constipation that is reduced as is bloating and an overall improvement in quality of life.
To use hypnotherapy in your treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, find a qualified and experienced therapist. The largest challenge in making hypnosis work for you will be finding a therapist that is skilled at treatment of your condition.
In addition, it can be a costly alternative to other methods of treatment of IBS. Nevertheless, both of these mind body treatments can be quite beneficial.
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to help in healing all types of medical conditions. There is no doubt that you will find some benefits in this ancient Chinese medicine. Today, it is widely used around the world and is growing in popularity.
What is acupuncture? For those that do not know, it seems like something out of a strange wizard's book, but in truth it is fairly simple to understand.
It works on the theory that there are channels of energy called meridians. Energy is called Qi. These channels course through the entire body. On these meridians there are 360 different acupuncture points. When you are healthy, the energy flows through the body easily through the channels. When you are ill, the energy flow is somehow disrupted. This is what causes symptoms like those that you face with IBS.
Acupuncture is then used at specific locations around your body to help release energy and then bring back the flow of the energy throughout the body.
What can acupuncture do for IBS then? There are several things that it can help with. Some individuals find relief from pain in the abdomen. Nausea and bloating can also be relieved through acupuncture.
If you would like to gain these benefits through acupuncture, your first goal will be to find an experienced and skilled acupuncturist. These individuals should have a good track record with helping individuals suffering specifically from irritable bowel syndrome.
Often times, acupuncture is made even better when it is paired with the correct ancient Chinese herbal remedies that have been used for centuries.
Acupuncture is a safe route to take when you use someone that is educated as well as experienced. Insuring this will insure a good result.
Probiotics can be helpful in treating IBS as well. They work by altering the intestinal flora. Probiotics are organisms that can help to regulate the bacteria within the intestines. By balancing these bacteria, you will find benefit in the relief of the symptoms.
In your intestines there are intestinal flora, which are good bacteria. It is used to keep the GI tract working correctly. In addition, intestinal flora, which are actually organisms that that are throughout your intestines, also help with keeping your immune system healthy and providing for the secreation of fluids.
The thought is that perhaps the natural bacterial benefits can be used to help treat IBS as well. For this reason, probiotics have been used to simulate the intestinal flora. In some studies, probiotics have been beneficial in reducing the amount of pain that an individual experiences in the abdomen. The reduction of gas is also evident with the use of probiotics. For some individuals benefits have been seen in the function of the bowel with the help of probiotics too.
You can purchase probiotics readily in health food stores both online and in your local area. It is widely thought that they could be potentially beneficial to those that suffer from IBS, but there is much study need to provide this for sure.
The end result of all of these different options is up to you. For some individuals, sticking with just the traditional medications is the only way to go. For others, the biggest benefit will come from the ability to avoid the use of medications that usually have harmful side effects. Yet, the bottom line is that it is a choice you need to make.
Remember that many of these complimentary therapies can be used in conjunction with the medications and lifestyle changes that your doctor has recommended. If you are unsure of how an herbal remedy will work with the medications that you are currently taking, ask your doctor about it first. Better even still is to talk to your herbal specialist at your local health food store.
It is essential to find any and all relief that you can get from IBS symptoms. Complimentary therapies can be just the right choice.
Get Lean
Heart Disease
Work From Home
Irritable Bowel
Sports Nutrition
Mantra Magic